Rehabilitating Probation with Professor Matthew Millings and Dr Matt Tidmarsh

Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice is a podcast exploring the world of probation, rehabilitation, and community justice. Hosted by Megan Thomas and Ceri Halfpenny from the University of Portsmouth, this series delves into key issues affecting probation practice, featuring expert insights, research, and real-world experiences.In this episode, we are joined by Professor Matthew Millings, who shares insights from his recent project, Rehabilitating Probation, and Associate Professor Matt Tidmarsh from the Probation Institute. Together, they explore what it means to rehabilitate not only those supervised by Probation, but the Probation Service itself. The conversation examines the evolving identity of Probation as a profession, the impact of continual organisational change, and the challenges facing practitioners working within a complex and pressurised system. Matthew and Matt reflect on the role of research, professional values, and collective voice in shaping Probation’s future, and consider how Probation can reclaim a sense of purpose, coherence, and legitimacy.This rich and reflective episode invites PQiPs, Probation practitioners, and anyone interested in Community Justice to think critically about Probation’s past, present, and future and what it means to imagine Probation as a values‑led profession with a clear and confident identity.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:50 - Matthew Millings & Dr Matt Tidmarsh05:03 - Impact of Organisational Change12:06 - Motivations for Rehab Project25:50 - Defining Rehabilitation in Probation37:30 - Continuous Learning & Reflection45:23 - Building Relationships & Engagement54:38 - Reimagining Probation: Health ViewShow notes and readings:We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made Probation Perspectives: Insights into Community Justice possible.Freddie Hunt – Podcast producerJill Dealey – Podcast development and content supportLauren Meredith – Logo and jingle developmentJenn Grant & Michelle McDermott – Management and supportAll of our guests for sharing their expertise and experiencesHere are the details of the resources and readings that were referred to within the episode:You can find out more about the Rehabilitating Probation project on their website here: https://rehabilitating-probation.org.uk/The Probation Institute offers professional membership, leadership, and evidence‑based resources for the sector. Find out more or join here: https://www.probation-institute.org/Tidmarsh, M. (2025). Probation Governance, Identity, and Practice: Making, Unmaking, Remaking. Taylor & Francis.Dominey, J. (2019). Probation supervision as a network of relationships: aiming to be thick, not thin. Probation Journal, 66(3), 283-302.Public Health England (2020). Health and social care needs assessment of adults under probation service supervision in the community. A guidance document. London: Public Health England. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adults-on-probation-health-and-social-care-needs-assessment